Abstract: A disc brake 10 has a caliper 34 including apparatus 52 for retracting the piston 68 of the fluid motor portion 44 of the caliper to a non-braking position when the brake is not applied. Consequently, runout, wobble, or axial movement of the brake disc 12 may space the friction elements 62, 64 of the brake from the friction faces 18, 20 of the brake disc so that the friction elements do not drag on the disc when the brake is not applied.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus includes rotatable input and output members (32, 36), relative rotation of which supplies presurized fluid from a fluid pressure source (16) to a working chamber of a hydraulic actuator (44). The members are arranged coaxially end-to-end and each member defines a transverse slot (74, 76) confronting a similar slot on the other member. A resilient member (80, 82) is received in the transverse slots and engages both input and output members to substantially prevent rotational slack therebetween.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a torque member which carries at least one pin for slidably supporting a caliper. The one pin threadably engages the torque member and extends on both sides of the disc. A pair of friction elements are engageable with the disc to retard rotation of the latter. On one side of the disc the one pin slidably engages the caliper, while on the other side of the disc the one pin slidably engages one of the pair of friction elements. The one pin is spaced from the caliper on the other side of the disc where the one pin engages one of the pair of friction elements. The one pin cooperates with a resilient bushing on the caliper to form a sliding connection therebetween and also cooperates with a resilient bushing on the one friction element to form a sliding connection therebetween. An optional thermoplastic sleeve may be disposed between the resilient bushing on the caliper and the one pin.

Abstract: A brake pedal linkage includes a pair of levers (18,20), a first connecting member (26) and a second connecting member (28). The first connecting member defines a lost-motion connection with a master cylinder and the second connecting member defines a lost-motion connection with one of the pair of levers. The first connecting member extends between a brake pedal and a master cylinder and cooperates with the pair of levers such that the master cylinder travel is greater than the brake pedal during an initial stage of braking, less than the brake pedal during an intermediate stage of braking, and equal to the brake pedal during a final stage of braking.

Abstract: A band brake assembly comprises a friction element (12) engageable with a rotatable member (10) and an input linkage assembly (30) controlling engagement of the friction element with the rotatable member. The input linkage assembly (30) is carried by a mounting bracket (32) and includes a first lever (34), a bearing assembly (38) and a second lever (40) engageable with an end plate (42) secured to the ends of the friction element (12). The end plate (42) carries pins (22, 24) secured to the friction element and extending into slots (52, 54) on the mounting bracket (32). The pins transfer braking torque to the mounting bracket (32) and are guided by the slots to provide a servo assist during braking.

Abstract: A disc brake having a piston retraction assembly includes a caliper (12) receiving a piston (14) for biasing a friction pad (16) into engagement with a rotor (18). A recess (30) on the caliper receives the retraction assembly 32 and a boot assembly 34 cooperates with the retraction assembly (32) to limit movement of the latter with the piston (14). A resilient member (40) engages the boot assembly (34) to bias the piston (14) via friction ring (36) to return to its rest position.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster includes a housing (22) with a control valve assembly (34) and a piston (30). The control valve assembly (34) carries a secondary valve assembly (56) including a pilot member (58) and a mounting ring (60). The secondary valve assembly controls communication of fluid pressure to the pressure chamber (24) via the control valve assembly (34).

Abstract: A method of finish forming thermoplastic surfaces wherein a die having a finishing surface complementary in contour to and conforming in surface finish to the selected contour and surface finish of the thermoplastic surface is heated to a temperature between the softening and melting temperatures of the thermoplastic. The finishing surface of the die is pressed against the thermoplastic surface so that the thermoplastic is softened and flows to conform precisely to the contour and surface finish of the finishing surface of the die.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly provides a caliper (22) cooperating with a pair of friction pads (16, 18) to brake a rotor (20). A piston assembly (28) is carried by the caliper 22 and is constructed from a pair of pistons (42, 42) and a resilient member 44. The pistons (40, 42) form an auxiliary pressure chamber (52) which cooperates with the resilient member (44) to control movement between the pair of pistons (40, 42).

Abstract: A power steering pump includes a pump housing (12) and a chambered sheet metal casing (14) around the pump housing. The pump housing and casing cooperate to define a fluid reservoir (22) for the power steering system. The pump housing defines a cylindrical outer surface (30) and the casing defines a circular opening (24) through which the pump housing extends into the casing chamber. An annular groove (32) circumscribes the pump housing cylindrical surface and receives an O-ring seal (34). An annular rim (36) is defined by the casing around the opening into the chamber. The annular rim (36) extends parallel to and closely adjacent the cylindrical outer surface (30) of the pump housing and cooperates with the O-ring (34) to effect a fluid-tight seal between the pump housing and casing. The casing is rotatable relative to the pump housing so that the fluid reservoir is adjustably positionable rotatably relative to the pump housing.

Abstract: A transparent plastic plug (60) is attached to a reservoir housing (16) to provide a visual indication of the fluid level within. The housing (16) includes a pair of tabs (46, 48) and the plug (60) includes a pair of resilient projections (76, 78) which cooperate with the tabs (46, 48) to permanently attach the plug to the housing.

Abstract: The brake comprises a caliper (14) mounted for sliding on a fixed support by two axial columns (16 and 18) cooperating with bores (38, 40) formed in the caliper. The bores (38, 40) are provided with notches (42, 44) permitting the introduction of the columns (16, 18) transversely and without dismounting the latter. One of the columns (16) is equipped with a resilient sleeve (51) on which there is formed a projection (52) cooperating resiliently with the corresponding bore (38) of the caliper (14) to ensure functions of automatic recentring of the caliper and of anti-noise spring.

Abstract: The correcting valve comprises two identical parallel pistons which control the opening or closing of two valves which are disposed between two inputs and two outputs of two braking circuits. Two thrust members which are subjected to a control pressure urge the pistons in the direction for opening the valves. Two reaction springs co-operate with two transmission members for urging the thrust members in the opposite direction. When the two brakes circuits are supplied, the correcting valve has an identical cut-off pressure for the two circuits. In the event of failure of one of the circuits, the transmission members come into mutual engagement, resulting in a doubling in the cut-off pressure in the circuit which is still intact. The invention is used for dual-circuit braking systems for motor vehicles.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are carried by a backing plate and engageable with a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is operable to move the pair of brake shoes from a rest position to a braking position. A strut extending between the pair of brake shoes cooperates with a parking arm to move the pair of brake shoes to the braking position during a parking brake application. A support assembly on the backing plate is disposed opposite the hydraulic actuator for the purpose of absorbing braking torque developed by the pair of brake shoes. The support assembly comprises a pair of slots and a lever. The lever is movable in response to movement of the parking arm to adjust the position of the pair of blocks relative to each other. In a first position the blocks are in abutment with the backing plate while in a second position the blocks are free to move a limited amount relative to the backing plate.

Abstract: A wheel cylinder and torque plate construction is provided for a drum brake. The wheel cylinder comprises a molded plastic cylindrical member in a steel shell. The steel shell can be part of a torque plate which can be stamped in two parts which are substantially identical and then affixed together. The torque plate parts have semicylindrical shells which form the wheel cylinder shell when the parts are assembled. The plastic cylinder can be molded in the shell in a suitable die or mold in a plastic molding machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a hydraulic brake booster, and in particular, covers a structure which provides a pressure limiter for the hydraulic brake booster. The booster comprises a housing which defines a pressure chamber and supports a control valve and a piston. During braking the control valve cooperates with an actuator to move relative to the housing so as to communicate pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber and the piston is movable in response to the pressurized fluid within the pressure chamber to effectuate braking. In order to limit the level of pressure of pressurized fluid communicated to the pressure chamber a ring is disposed within the housing in cooperation with the control valve. The ring cooperates with the control valve to define a differential area which is exposed to pressurized fluid to generate a force opposing movement of the control valve so that communication of pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber is limited.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a drum brake shoe comprises the steps of providing a strip of material, forming a plurality of connected blanks with the strip, bending each blank to form an arcuate surface with adjoining sides, cutting one of the blanks by serving a connecting link and trimming the one blank to form a contour for the adjoining sides. Thereafter, a friction lining is attached to the arcuate surface.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly (10) includes a torque member (12) which supports a hydraulic actuator (26). The hydraulic actuator is engageable with a pair of brake shoes (20, 22) and is operable to move the pair of brake shoes into a braking position. The torque member comprises a central portion (40) which attaches to an axle assembly (84) and a plurality of arms (42, 44, 46) extending radially outward from the central portion. In the preferred embodiment the plurality of arms cooperate with the central portion to substantially form a Y-shaped member. One of the arms (42) substantially forms the hydraulic actuator to integrally form the latter with the one arm. The other arms are provided with slots (64, 66) to direct the movement of the pair of brake shoes and resilient elastomeric members within the slots opposes axial movement of the pair of brake shoes.

Abstract: A floating-caliper disc brake (10) includes a non-rotating torque member (36). A caliper (22) straddles the brake disc (12) and is carried in fixed radial and circumferential position by the torque member (36). Axial movement of the caliper (22) relative to the brake disc (22) is provided for by roller members (58) between the caliper (22) and the torque member (36). The torque member (36) and the caliper (22) both have axially-extending grooves (52, 54) which in registry cooperate to define axially-extending apertures (56) between the caliper and the torque member. The roller members (58) are received in the axially-extending apertures (56) between the caliper (22) and the torque member (36). The roller members (58) are the sole torque-transmitting structure between the caliper (22) and the torque member (36). Rolling of the caliper (22) on the roller members (58) provides for axial movement of the caliper (22) relative to the brake disc (12) and the torque member (36).

Abstract: A drum brake (10) includes a rotatable brake drum (16) and a pair of brake shoes (12, 14) which are engageable with the brake drum. A non-rotatable backing plate (24) slidably carries the pair of brake shoes. The brake shoes pivotally anchor at one end to a pin (32) secured to the backing plate. An extendible member (36) adjustably spaces apart the other ends of the brake shoes to maintain a desired running clearance between the brake shoes and the brake drum. One of the brake shoes carries a lever (48) which drivingly engages a ratchet wheel (46) of the extendible member. The lever carries a pin (60) which is slidably and rotatably received in an arcuate guide slot (58) of the backing plate. A brake application with forward brake drum rotation causes the lever to slide along the arcuate slot and to remain substantially stationary relative to the extendible member.